The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-09-02

h.sting triumphantly on the Iao.e
~ hSs snoon until his mother I'M
nrisoned the chubby hand. -, dr-
Colin essayed a smile with his dFy
lips. ,;a ob.ir and
rose from the table, he SAID i loISoV
to tell YOU, Lucy, that | have TO "a
aCross the river to night to see Lolanu
on business, and l shan't be able 10
get back until tomorrow Fill
"Oh. Colin" cried Lucy, mournluIly'
az hate to nave YOU stay out al
NIGHT, I'm always afraid something
will happen to you-thaC i" n''0'
see you again, ,,,oo,o,ooL ~
"WeIl, needn'tgo until lO0,cLock,
Jackv. who was always unpleasant
" wide awake in the evening was al
lowed to sit upin honor ofhis fathers
ernected departure. Lucy sat beside
her husband, with her IaLdS cIaSped
around his arm, talking in her simple
wav, but he scarcely heard her'
His heart was full OF the many things
he wished to say to her before they
narted forever. yet he dared not
speak any last words. HIS heSh qul''
cred whenever the clock struck.
Presently he sprang to his feet, not
daring to stay any longer.
Il must go, Lucy he said.
you'll come home early in the
morning, won't you, Colin, dear?"
she asked.
eyes, I'll come home early
"And | must bring you a thicker
coat to wear" added the thoughtful
wife" because it may turn chilly"
He took her in his arms and pressed
her close against his heart. HelooEed
at her bright hair lyingupon his breast
for the last time. Then ne kissed the
child, who glanced up carelessly and
went back to his Playthings as his
father passed out at the door.
But when Colin was half way down
the garden path, he suddenly returned.
Have you forgotten anything,
DEAR" Lucy asked.
"My-my stick he stammered.
"May be it's in the corner. Why,
you silly fellow, you have it under
your arm" she laughed, her pretty
face sparkling with smiles at his stu
pidity.
Colin stood in the middle of the
room, looking haggardly about him.
He gave a second embrace to his wife,
and, without looking at Jacky, he
plunged out iuto the night.
Lucy held up JaCky at the door,
that he might see how the leaplng ray
of the lantern sprang forward into
the darkness.
"Dere's-my-papa," Colin heard
the little voice cry out, and he knew
that the chubby forefnger was point
ing after him.
"Papa's gone! Papa gone!" said
Lucy, in the singing tone supposed to
be soothing to the infant mind, and
Colin heard the door shut. 1t mad
closed forever between him and them.
l. He stopped short in the middle OF
the road.
"0h God! I can't leave them" he
said with a sob.
Still he knew he must 60 or.
He rowed in his skiff to the appoint
ed spot; but when he reached it the
woman was not there.
He stood and waited, his heart
plunging at every chance noise. The
sudden shrek of an owl made the cold
drops started upon his forehead. The
frogs laughed hoarsely from the neigh
boring swamps, and the river flowed
past, ghostly in the uncertain light.
The white mist chung to the water.
The opposite bank was a ~coniectural
region, and the trees bushes near at
hand had the ~wavering indistinct out
lines OF things seen in adream. There
was no moon, but the sky was thick
with stars.
He strained his ear to catch the
echo Of an approaching football; but
the murmurs OF the night seemed to
fall around him like a veil OF sound.
Her delay was both q relief and a.
terror to him.
Must it be? Must it be? His mind
stumbled again and again over the
same dark thought. There were
other ways-one other way. A mans
strength against a woman's-and in
this lonely spot.
his clothes were dark with mois-
ture, and his limbs trembled beneath
him. Still she did not come.
The night was growing late. A
steamboat passed, in a great glare OF
light that streamed from every pore.
AS 1t approached the village It fitted
up a mighty voice out OF the darkness
three deep melancholy notes that
died iEto u wall. He could hear the
labored breathing Of the engines and
the rush and struggle Of the water as
a landing was made.
Hour alter hour passed, and he
knew that day was at hand. 1T vas
more a feeling than an appearance.
First the whip-poor.wiIls forbore 10
cry. There was q hush in tile air: 4
peculiar, damp, told smell; every
spear Of grass stood motionless, I'M
trembling under the weight Of dew.
The chill wind Of dawn began TO
rise, bearing a fresh scent of earth
and flowers. He heard an uneasy
cowbell here and there and knew ~